Neuroscience

Within the context of the liberal arts environment, High Point University’s Neuroscience Program provides students with interdisciplinary curricular options that range from the generalized to the specialized, and that prepare them for a wide variety of post-baccalaureate goals within their field (e.g., careers in biomedical research; professional programs in the health sciences, such as medical school). Within our curricula, special emphasis is placed on science as a process, supported by a conceptual understanding of basic principles in neuroscience. To this end, hands-on, experiential learning opportunities are abundant, both within classrooms and teaching laboratories and through original research. As a result, our curricula foster within students not only the knowledge base, but also the critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills that prepare them for success in their future careers and for leadership roles within society.

A bachelors degree in Neuroscience at High Point University will prepare you for a variety of career opportunities. The careers available to a student with a BS in Neuroscience overlap significantly with careers available to students with either a biology or psychology degree.  Many students may wish to further specialize their education by pursuing advanced degrees. Below are some examples of career opportunities for students graduating with a BS in Neuroscience, as well as careers which Neuroscience students are well prepared to pursue additional training.

Health Fields

• Medical Doctor
• Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant
• Pharmacist
• Physical Therapy
• Optometry
• Clinical Psychologist / Researcher
• Genetic Counselor
• Speech Pathologist
• Medical Technician

Academia & Education

• Research Scientist
• College Professor
• Lab Technician / Research Assistant
• High School Science Teacher

Business, Law & Government

• Pharmaceutical Sales
• Animal Lab Technician
• Science Advocacy
• Forensic Science
• Patent Law
• Occupational Therapist
• Neuro-economics / Marketing
• Lawyer
• Work for NIH, CDC, FDA, etc
• Science blogger, writer

Students will complete the following 58 credits within the major. Note that completion of the equivalent of MTH 1210 (Pre calculus) is also required.

Foundation Courses (40 credits):

First Year

• Bio 1500 Principles of Cell Biology/Lab (4)
• Bio 2001 Principles of Genetics/Lab (4)
• PSY 2000  Introduction to Psychology (4)
• CHM 1010/1011  General Chemistry I/Lab (4)
• CHM 1020/1021  General Chemistry II /Lab (4)

Second Year

• Bio 3061 Integrated Human Physiology/Lab (4)
• CHM 2510/2511  Organic Chemistry I/Lab (4)
• CHM 2520/2521  Organic Chemistry II/Lab (4)
• NEU 3010 Principles of Cellular Neuroscience (4)
• STS 2020  Introduction to Statistics (4) or STS 3200 Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis (4)

Core courses (8 credits)†

Third Year

• Neu 3011 Neuroanatomy (4)

Choose one 4 credit course (lecture plus lab) from Category I:

• BIO 3000  Cell Biology (4)
• BIO 3050  Genetics (4)
• BIO 4090  Molecular Biology (4)
• BCH 3320/3330  Biochemistry/Lab (4)*

†Taken after the completion of all foundation courses.
*The honors section of BCH 3220 is a prerequisite for this course. 

Upper Level Elective Courses (8 credits)‡

 Third and Fourth Years

Choose two courses from Category II:

• BIO 4200  Neurogenesis (4)
• BIO 4210  Molecular Neuroscience (4)
• PSY 3520  Sensation & Perception (4)**
• PSY 4610  Drugs & Behavior (4)**

‡Taken after completion of all Core Courses. No more than one PSY course from Category II can be counted toward the major.
**PSY 2600 is a prerequisite course.

Senior Capstone Experience (2 credits)

 Fourth Year

• BIO 4250  Journal Club: Advanced Topics in Neuroscience (2)***

***Taught on a rotating basis by biology faculty. This is a capstone course with a flexible topic, dependent upon the expertise and interest of the professor. The course will include both written and oral presentation components, as well as discussion and critical analysis of primary literature.

Note: if students’ professional goals lie in a health science field (e.g., pre-medical; pre-dental; pre-PA), they should also attend regular advising sessions with health science advisors for mentoring on coursework required to be considered for admission to these graduate / professional programs, since some of the required courses do not overlap with the courses required for this major.

High Point University’s Neuroscience Program strives to provide students with state-of-the-art, rigorous, laboratory-intensive training in this interdisciplinary field that enables them to:

1. Demonstrate proficiency with the concepts and methodologies of neuroscience;
2. Apply scientific methods and ways of thinking, including hypothesis formation, the design and execution of well-controlled experiments, and the analysis and interpretation of experimental results;
3. Apply concepts from the various sub disciplines of neuroscience to solve problems;
4. Communicate neuroscience concepts and data effectively, both orally and in written form, to the scientific and lay communities;
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and social dimensions of neuroscience, as well as the limitations and assumptions of the field as it is practiced in the US and globally; and
6. Demonstrate the understanding and skills necessary to work in a diverse world.